 Everyone in attendance was provided a packet of information with a
summary of minutes from a previous meeting on Nov. 1, 2012, as well
as historical and financial figures on past events that resulted in
critical damage in the area.Terry Storer opened the meeting and
thanked everyone for attending. There were representatives from
Atlanta, Broadwell, Elkhart, Emden, Hartsburg, Lincoln and Mount
Pulaski.
Greg Michaud of Johnson, Depp and Quisenberry spoke to the group.
Michaud is working with Logan County as a consultant in creating
hazard mitigation plans.
Michaud provided some statistics on previous damage in Logan
County:
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Since 1950, there
have been 59 tornadoes verified in Logan County. The combined
damage cost $39 million and resulted in 75 injuries and one
death. The average tornado is three miles long and 145 yards
wide.
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Since 1951, records available show
there have been 46 floods, causing at least $3.5 million in
damage. While potential damage from stream flooding can be
calculated (at least a quarter of a million dollars, depending
on location), flash flooding is unpredictable.
Andrea Bostwick collected surveys from individuals present at the
November meeting. Those surveys were focused on knowledge of
previous hazards in which critical facilities were damaged.
Bostwick also demonstrated a new form that would need to be
filled out by representatives of each area. The new form, called a
mitigation actions table, would indicate ideas for how to prevent
large amounts of damage to critical facilities. As an example,
Bostwick used the building of a tornado shelter. The form includes
space for items such as funding sources, size of affected population
and time frame for completion.
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Michaud said that the representatives at the meeting should find
ways to work with their communities on developing a potential hazard
mitigation action table.
County board member Gene Rohlfs asked about a possible example:
What if the airport is damaged in such (an event) as to lose power?
Rohlfs also asked if it would be possible to include necessary
supplies such as generators in this form.
Michaud replied that it would be a good idea to add details like
that to the table.
"We really need the input," added Storer at the end of the
meeting, who said it was good to think outside the box on this
project.
The new forms will be filled out for the next meeting in the
series. A date was set for June 13 at 4 p.m. in the safety complex.
Bostwick said that at least one of these forms should be completed
for each municipality.
[By DEREK HURLEY]
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